“I was only able to get one room,” Duncan informed her when they reached the top of the stairs. “The inn is full, I’m afraid.”
Eliza frowned, but nodded in acquiescence. However, when she walked inside the room, she realised that she was trapped in an impossible predicament as she looked around in horror and saw only one bed.
No,she thought.Surely, this is a mistake?
She whipped around to see Duncan surveying the chamber with a satisfied smile on his face. There was no doubt it was well-appointed and its furniture and fittings were of good quality. However, Eliza could not and would not share a bed with a perfect stranger.
“You will have to sleep on the floor,” she said firmly.
Duncan laughed, his expression one of disbelief. “Indeed I will not!” he replied. “If you feel so strongly about not sharing a bed with me, then you can sleep on the floor.”
They stood glaring at each other for a full minute before Eliza turned away and walked over to the window, wondering if there was any means of escape, but, of course, there was none. She turned to see Duncan pulling off his shirt, and her gaze slid down his muscular chest in open admiration almost without her realising it.
Duncan grinned as he pulled on a pair of breeches and took off his kilt. “Don’t worry, I am not coming to bed naked, and anyway, as you said, I am far too delicate to do you any harm, Eliza. But if you still want to sleep on the floor, feel free. I will lend you one of the blankets from the bed.”
Eliza almost growled. “You are no gentleman,” she said angrily.
Duncan laughed as he climbed into bed and pulled the blankets over himself.
“I never said I was.”
2
The bed should have been comfortable, since it was large and well-padded, but Eliza was acutely aware of Duncan’s hard male body beside her. Although she tried to turn her back and put as much space as she could between them, she could still feel his warm breath on her neck and smell the musk of his skin. Despite herself, she found it arousing in the extreme.
She fell into a fitful doze just before dawn, only to be awakened by Duncan’s hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. She opened her eyes gingerly to find his amber eyes smiling down at her.
“Good morning, lass,” he said. “Did you sleep well?” There was a hint of mischief in his smile.
Eliza rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands; they felt raw and gritty, and she knew that they would be red and bloodshot.
I must look like a witch,she thought, yawning.
“Well enough,” she lied, even though she knew Duncan did not believe her.
“I will have breakfast sent up for you,” he told her. “I’m going to settle our bill and organise the carriage while you eat and dress. We must leave as soon as we can, there is a long way togo.” He paused and looked at her doubtfully. “Eliza, are you sure you are well?”
“Fine, thank you.” Eliza turned her back on him and went to wash and dress, then ate her breakfast, all the while trying not to think about Duncan’s presence in her bed a few hours before.
It would have been so easy to turn and wrap her arms around him—after all, she and one of her sisters had often slept in the same bed and done the same thing.
However, sleeping with a large, muscular, extremely masculine man was quite a different situation, and God alone knew where things would have led if she had allowed herself to succumb to that temptation!
Perhaps sleeping on the floor would have been a better idea,she thought.I might have had a better night’s sleep!
Presently, Duncan came to pick up her overnight bag and escort her down to the carriage.
The driver frowned, then looked at Duncan with a sly smile as he raised his eyebrows. “Did she no’ sleep well?” he asked suggestively, earning a sharp glare from her.
Duncan laughed and put a finger in front of his mouth to urge the man to be quiet.
Just then, the same young woman who had served them the evening before came out with a bundle of food and a flask of ale for their journey.
Duncan stepped forward and took it from her, giving her a bright, beaming smile. “Mmm, this smells delicious,” he said appreciatively. “Thank you, what is your name, hen?”
“Flora, Sir,” the young woman answered with a shy, blushing smile. Duncan dropped a few coins into her hand, flushing her a charming grin, and at that moment, Eliza appeared and pushed between them roughly to climb into the carriage.
Duncan threw his head back and laughed heartily, then he dropped a coin into the waitress’s hand. “I apologise for herrudeness,” he said. “She did not sleep well, despite my ‘delicate’ state.”
